Connie Bren- Clear Lake
Nov. 20, 1929 – March 4, 2013

Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Friday in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Clear Lake. Burial is in the Lakeview Cemetery in Clear Lake. Visitation is from 5 – 8 p.m. today in the Houseman Funeral Home in Clear Lake.

Constance “Connie” Bren was born on Nov. 20, 1929, to Clifford C. and Hazel I. (Hansen) Allensworth in Sioux City, Iowa. She was raised there until the family moved to Sioux Falls. Prior to her senior year in high school they moved to Watertown, where she graduated in 1948. Connie married Oscar Bren on Nov. 4, 1952, in Goodwin. Following their marriage, they lived in Watertown, where she worked as a secretary for the Watertown Public Opinion and Midland Insurance Company. They moved to Estelline, then Bruce where Connie helped Oscar with the accounting business. In 1975, they moved to an acreage near Brandt. On Dec. 18, 2005, Oscar died. In 2006, Connie moved to Clear Lake.

Connie was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she was active in the Ladies Aid and taught Sunday school. Connie enjoyed volunteering in the community and was involved with the senior citizens center and delivering “meals on wheels.” She was also a member of the Antique Auto Club of America. Connie was a very kind, gentle and loving person. She always gave a helping hand, especially in the kitchen.

Many will always remember her as being the “hostess with the mostest.” She devoted much of her time coordinating get togethers for any occasion, always putting a smile on someone’s face. She was an amazing mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and friend who was a great listener with a loving spirit. She cherished family bond.

She is survived by her five children, Cindy (Roger) Kalsbeck of Bruce, Rodney (Susan Morgan) Bren of Watertown, Timothy (Julie) Bren of Guttenberg, Iowa, Todd (AJ) Bren of Sioux Falls and Cathi (Dan) Barsness of Tunerville; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law: Robert (Sue) Bren of Goodwin and Chad (Vickie) Bren of Goodwin; two sisters-in-law, Maxine Johnson of Chatfield, Minn., and Janice Bren of Goodwin; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar; and two brothers-in-law Coye Bren and Johnny Johnson.